Jill Kolodner | January 27, 2023 | Car Accidents
Founded in 1931, Allstate is the largest publicly held insurer for personal lines of insurance in the United States. Allstate covers over 16 million households with its insurance, along with millions of auto insurance holders.
Due to the sheer size of this insurer, it is possible that you will need to file a car accident claim with Allstate at some point. Knowing what to do may help you avoid frustrations or costly mistakes that can harm your claim. You can also contact WGK Personal Injury Lawyers to learn how to file a car accident claim with Allstate in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Claim Process: Step By Step
Maryland is an at-fault state for car accidents, so the party who is at fault for the accident is responsible for compensating the victim. This is typically completed with an insurance claim with the at-fault driver’s liability insurer.
Here are the steps for a typical claim with Allstate.
Make A Claim
The claim officially begins when you contact the at-fault driver’s insurance company to report the accident. You can file a claim by calling the company at 1-800-ALLSTATE or by using the company’s website through the “Report a Claim” feature.
Keep in mind during this process that Allstate represents their customer and company. It has no interest in ensuring that you receive fair compensation for your injuries. Quite the contrary, the insurance company’s adjusters may be trained in various ways to deny, delay, or devalue the claim.
With this background, you can provide facts to Allstate about the accident. Refer to the accident report to give the agent the following information:
- The date of the accident
- The insured’s name
- The location of the crash
- The insurance number, if available
- A description of the vehicles involved in the accident
The adjuster might ask you to give a recorded statement about how the accident occurred, but you are under no obligation to do so.
Determination Of Fault
After you file a claim, the case will be assigned to a particular insurance adjuster. The adjuster will begin investigating the accident, which may include examining the positions of the vehicle and whether the drivers involved violated a traffic rule. During this time, the adjuster may try to find any way possible to blame you for the accident in their own financial self-interest.
Calculation Of Damages
The next step of the process is to calculate the value of your claim. There are different ways to calculate claim values. Allstate uses Colossus, a computer software program that gives estimates based on information the adjuster inputs into the system. However, computer programs may undervalue claims.
An experienced car accident lawyer can gather evidence to help prove the full extent of your damages, such as:
- Medical records and bills that show how much you paid for your accident-related treatment
- Doctor’s notes about the need for future medical treatment
- Paystubs or an employer’s letter that details the amount of wages, income, and benefits you lost because of time you missed from work
- Reports from experts, such as vocational experts, about the lifelong impact your injuries will have on your life
- Statements from those who know you or journal entries that explain the pain and suffering you have experienced because of your injuries
- Repair estimates or invoices from the body shop
The will use this information to determine the precise value of your claim.
Negotiation
Once you know the real value of your claim, you may ask the insurance company to fairly compensate you. However, insurance adjusters may be much more seasoned negotiators than you are. Also, if they play hardball and deny your claim entirely or try to settle it for well below its true value, you may have limited negotiating power.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer for Help Filing Your Claim
Experienced car accident lawyers know how to accurately calculate the value of a claim, negotiate a fair settlement, and file a claim without negatively affecting your rights. You can contact a car accident lawyer to learn more about your rights.
For more information, contact the Baltimore car accident law firm of WGK Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation with a personal injury team.
WGK Personal Injury Lawyers
14 W Madison St, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
(410) 837-2144
WGK Personal Injury Lawyers – Dundalk Office
7329 Holabird Ave Suite 3, Dundalk, MD 21222
(410) 970-3080
